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“When I began walking, it was to remind people that freedom was delayed—but never denied,” Lee said in a press release from Unity Unlimited. “Walking together reminds us that justice requires action.”
Largely through Dr. Lee’s efforts, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2024 and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. She is the second African American to have her portrait displayed in the Texas State Senate and was honored in fall 2025 by the Freedom Center as an International Freedom Conductor.
“Dr. Lee’s lifelong mission to unite America around truth and justice has made her a living symbol of our shared values of courage, cooperation, and perseverance,” Keown said.
In addition to Cincinnati, 2026 host cities include Los Angeles; Birmingham, Alabama; Honolulu; Evanston, Illinois; Detroit; Grants Pass, Oregon; and St. Paul, Minnesota, along with flagship walks in Fort Worth, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Unity Unlimited’s long‑term goal is to host an Opal’s Walk for Freedom in every state by 2030. A virtual walk option will allow participants around the world to join.
“Opal’s Walk for Freedom is a national act of remembrance and responsibility,” said Dione Sims, founder and CEO of Unity Unlimited. “Walking together reinforces our shared commitment to justice and unity.”
The walk is supported by national and local partners, including Start 2 Finish Event Management, Detroit Choice Events, JARK 1 Entertainment, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Organizations interested in becoming local sponsors of the Cincinnati Opal’s Walk for Freedom may contact philanthropy@nurfc.org.
The Freedom Center invites the Cincinnati community and out-of-town visitors to join the walk on June 19 to reflect, remember and celebrate freedom together.
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About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.
About Unity Unlimited, Inc.
Unity Unlimited, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps communities overcome racial, cultural, and economic division. The programs they produce support their mission of human dignity through education, resources, and opportunities, including initiatives such as Juneteenth Strong, a month-long event series celebrating freedom with their brand ambassador, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Dr. Opal Lee.
Source: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
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